The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-30
PRAISEW0RTHY WORK.
NEW UNDERTAKING BY THE WON
EMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
A Young Ladies' Boarding Home, with
All the Comforts and Conveniences,
Established--Reaso Terms, Good
Influences and No Charity.

couragcment OF good people IL IL The work
ing girls and women. Met with tempta-
tons at almost every turn, thrown in CON
tact with all sorts OF characters, their lives
are made up Of singular experiences. by
some strange idea OF measuring worth, en-
plOyes make marked distinctions between
male and female help, but almost invaria-
same service for which a male clerk re-
ceivcs $40, Sl2 or $l5 per week, the female
is expected and required TO perform for not
exceeding s.. The question of capacity or
excellence seems not TO be considered, for
II il was in many eases the poorly paid fe-
male would exchange positions with her
fortunate rival.
10 this unaccountablc distinction be-
tween the sexes on the part Of employers,
and the consequent inadequate remunera-
ton for services by the weaker class, il due
the widespread solicitude for their safety
and welfare by christian people generally.
II IL not altogether for the female clerks
that they feel an interest. The same rule
OF salary seems 10 apply 10 all establish
ments where the two classes are employed.
Even those who have mastered the science
Of stcnography and learned 10 operate n
type writer find discrimination against
them, though not 10 the extent practiced
In mercantile and manufacturing concerns.
Scnnty wages compel working girls and
women 10 undergo almost innumerable
hardships and dcpriyations. IL IL failure
20 satisfactorily combat these that fire.
qucntly drives too many Of them 10 inn
morality and ruin. They ARE driven 10 in
fcrior boarding. houses, or 10 rent rooms in
cheap lodging-houscs and subsist as best
they can, dress poorly, and otherwise en-
counter poverty in al its hideous forms.
The Womcn's Christian association, nm
organization which has done noble work
for womankind, and IL constantly adding
new branches, has inaugnrated move
mcnt 10 meet the cases ol these deserving
poor. II Il different from their usual work,
Tor the reason that II N no charity, nj least
they do not wish II understood ~ such. II
IL nothing less than "yOung womcn's
boarding home" which IL confidently ex-
pectcd Ia accomplish inr more good than all
The reform work hitherto done by the noble
ladies. The institution il located nj No
800 Srrui,i sir,ci, the association head
quarters, and presided over by Mn. =. A.
Surprise, a lady who has long been idonii-
fed with christian mission work IN this
CITY
An ArrEAL reporter visited the home
yesterday. aud was shown through II lev
the philnnthropic lnndady. Everything
was ~ neat and clcanly IN n well furnished
home. and attractive additions and im-
proycncnts were still being made. As the
examination progryscd Mn. Surprise ex-
planned in detail the object, progrsS and
future intentions Of the managers, and in
such language and manner M 10 leave no
doubt of the utmost sincerity and nobility
Of purpose.
cit lisa new branch oi the Womcns
christian association" she said, "nnd has
only lsecn IN operation about three weeks
We have avoided any newspaper publicity
until nov, because II was deemed better
20 say we have IL already established
than we expect 10 establish M an early
day We do not wish II understood M u
charity, for in strict sense IL IL not The
young lady who comes 10 board is
charged In proportion "a the salary she
earns. II that bc SO per week, she will
b. expected Ia pay ~. and ~ on, proper.
tOnnic In both directions Where she has
Just come 10 the city In scarrh oi employ.
mcnL We will give her home for n rra.
sonablc length ~ time, and something Ia
do about the house NJ that she may not
consider Il charity. What We shall
strive 10 do il 10 make all our boarlcr- feel
That they are NJ home, and no imposition
upon any one. We have n nicely fur.
nished sitting.room, Wherein Ia plthcr
after supper and converse, have prayers or
any other inviting feature Of sOciabil.
". There the Young Indies cnn receive
their friends, ladies or gentlemen, hut
none only those Oi this class can enter the
doors Of the house. In this W. shall be-
very rigid, but II Is highly improbable
that this rule will ever have 10 he Rad or
applied. In fact, We have five boanlcr
now, and ~ iar they are unaware that we
have any rules. The necessity has not
yet ariscn 90 make them known.
We have rooms 10 accommodate TWEEN
N-iivC regular boarlcr, and arr furnish
ing them all nicrly and comfortably
Nearly everything ncccNary for this pur-
pos has brcn GENEROUSLY donated by
christian people II the city, aud most " u
nun churches ~ a body. The Flint
Methodist church took charge Of one room,
AMI supplied Il with every essential
article, besides several adornmcnip.
I'm addition We have what IN termed n
guests chamber, intended for ladies who
come 10 the city on shopping or Other
missions, aud prefer accommodations In q
place oi this Kind 10 hotel or regular
boariinghOusc. OF course they arc OK.
pccicd 10 pay reasonably. From ~ 10 .
o'clock daily lunches viii bc furnished NJ
popular priccS, aud In this way the institu.
ton will h. made sclf sustaining. Ladies
out shopping can call and be furnished 10.
inshmcnis, while gentlemen can also hc
supplied. Young men aud working girls
Nhn bring lunches frequently desire a cup
Of nice coffee, and this they can secure
frUm MS
I'VE hope and confidently expect 10
Sustain this nov branch Of our ou,anika.
Ton 10 n great extent by memberships.
ANY Pcnon paying that amount Of money,
or IT, equivalent In articles necessary to
furnish our home will be entitled io
membership. We hope 10 sccurn nj least
20 81 thc-c. Let mo again impress upon
you the TACT that Il IL not 10 be regarded NJ
charity, but n home ior working girls
and women In every scnsc al the word.
Tie reporter listened with the kecnost
iniepst 10 the explanation II Mn. Sur.
prise, and finally asked II she was to pre-.
side over the institution permanently.
81 expect ! will, shc pleasantly ~.
piled, with smile. "When Il was flint
decided by the association 10 bcgin the
undertaking there was q lively discussion
NJ 10 who should look after H. Oi coursc
someone must do II, and this meant 10 de.
vote entire time aud attention to the task
Just rs would be necessary In private
clearinghouse. had only one child-a
grown sOn--who Is absent. We had been
boarding for several years, and itwould be
Just as well for mc 10 make my home
there 10 they fixed Il upon me. My
a. a. y